[en] Nuclear power in aircraft, rockets and satellites is discussed. No nuclear-powered rockets or aircraft have ever flown, but ground tests were successful. Nuclear reactors are used in the Soviet Cosmos serles of satellites, but only one American satellite, the SNAP-10A, contained a reactor. Radioisotope thermoelectric generators, many of which use plutonium 238, have powered more than 20 satellites launched into deep space by the U.S.A

No abstract available

[en] The use of nuclear energy has become a political issue in Austria, Sweden, France, Switzerland, the United States, and Canada. The Austrian people chose not to fuel their nation's first nuclear power plant, while the Swiss have decided to continue nuclear development with tighter regulations. In Sweden, governments have been elected or fallen due to their stand on the question. France has not yet held a referendum on nuclear power, but there have been demonstrations and terrorist attacks. In the United States, public opinion is sharply divided, and there have been no new nuclear plants ordered in 1979. Several public inquiries into uranium mining and nuclear power have been held in Canada. There is a trend to increasing opposition to nuclear power since the accident at Three Mile Island. (LL)

[en] The safety advantage of the pressure-tube construction of Candu reactors is explained. The point is made that the recent rupture of a pressure tube in Pickering-2 was envisaged in the design and was managed without threat

[en] Highlights of the fourth Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference are presented, with the emphasis on opportunities for Canadian nuclear exports to the region. Japan and Korea are pressing ahead with nuclear generating programs to reduce their dependence on imported oil. Korea aims to increase the Korean content of its nuclear industry, and to participate in international ventures. China plans several nuclear power stations. In Canada and the U.S.A., no recent domestic orders have been received. Mexico is financially constrained to delay its nuclear program for about ten years. Indonesia is starting with a research reactor

[en] ESI Resources Ltd. in Calgary has started up an operation for recovering about 60 tonnes per year of uranium oxide concentrate as a by-product of fertilizer manufacture. Crude phosphoric acid is filtered, then treated with powdered iron to reduce the uranium, which is then solvent extracted in two stages. After the first stage, the solvent is stripped with phosphoric acid; after the second stage, it is stripped with sodium carbonate, from which the uranium is precipitated; and then the precipitate is heated to produce yellow cake. (N.D.H.)

[en] The Swedish referendum on nuclear energy is discussed in its social and potitical context. The author considers the result to be unfortunate: firstly it is unfortunate that the result pleases no one, because nuclear energy will neither be abolished, nor can it be expanded; secondly, Sweden would seem to be an ideal country in which to develop nuclear energy. It is suggested that nuclear controversy in Canada might become equally acrimonious and politically confused

[en] Presentations at the Eleventh World Energy Conference in September 1980 are highlighted, with the emphasis on nuclear energy. High oil prices have adversely affected the economies of many countries, but especially the less developed countries (LDC). The extent to which nuclear power can help the LDCs in the near future is limited by the size of their electricity grids. In the more developed countries, the discussion of nuclear energy is dominated by perceived need and public acceptance. The crisis of confidence in nuclear energy is not completely global. Both France and the COMECON countries have ambitious long-range plans, including nuclear combined heat and power units, and the more advanced developing countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Korea and Mexico, are also pressing ahead with nuclear programs. (NDH)

[en] In this popular article, the genetic effect of the development of nuclear energy is shown to be insignificant compared to the effects of age, chemical mutagens, and natural background radiation

[en] Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. engineers are looking at two types of CANDU reactors for use in the oil sands: the PHWR, a proven commercial reactor, and the organic-cooled reactor, currently an experimental design. A reactor could be used in the oil sands to generate electricity and to produce steam for injection into the ground in an in-situ bitumen recovery process. (NDH)